Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-10
THE CRITICAL HOUR.
Now is the Time to Act In
Behalf ofthe State.
An Appeal TO the Legislature Now
Assembled at Bismarck.
To The tprsss and pakotaian.

10 the Dr6ss ana DdkotdfQa.
There are critical periods in the lives
of men, when the whole course of their
future existence hangs trembling 10 the
balance, and may be, and often is, by a
single false step, or a tirlid shrinking
from q brave and courageous act, render
ed utterly barren of all good results,
either to themselves or the world at large.
So also, comes to US from the living
record of current ami past history the
vital it ct that a single incident has de-
throned kings, has destroyed govern
ments, has %perpetnated nations and
startled the civilized world with the
grandest discoveries of science. There
are also times when a people are called
upon to decide for themselves what
shall be their future standing among
the nations of the earth and aa the voice
OF the people is heard aud is crystalized
into living results. SO the die is cast.
There is at this moment an impending
crisis presented to the people of south
Dakota which must culmipate very
speedily to their lasting shame and dis
grace or to their glory and honor and
manhood, as evinced In an unyieIding
devotion to principles of right and
justice.
That crisis lies in the self evident fact
that unless the people of the proposed
state assert their manhood, and dare to
stand up for and maintain their undeni.
able rights under the laws OF our COM
mon country, there is no hope for
division and statehood in conformity to
their oft repeated wish, and territorial
vasaalsge must inevitably follow for an
indefinite period of time, unless they
are prepared to surrender their rights
and their manhood, and submit to the
dictation of q partisan congress.
True, the question Of division and
statehood is not a partisan one, and is
not SO considered, except by those who
prefer party to principle, and political
subsevience to an honest adherence to
the inhoregh Is of the people. Under
this state OF facts, what are the people of
south Dakota to do-this people who
have prayed and begged, snd pleaded 80
long for a recognition of their rights at
the hands of congress? Are we to sit
supinely down anu pewaii our condition,
or shall we rise up as one man, conscious
Of our Eduty and the exigencies of the
hour--conscious OF the reotituds of our
purposes and our legal rights as Ameri-
cum citizens-and put III motion the
machinery of that state government
which has already been legally provided
by the voice of the peoples By all
means let there be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
united, determined action. The time for
hating between two opinions has passed.
There can be no mi lie ground on thie
question now. HE sit IL not for me il
against me"-he who lie III ia favor OF
action is not in favor VI division and
statehood. Let the south Dakota mem,
beers OF the Bismarck Legislature take the
initiative in this unfaltering determine
tion on the part Of their constituent Is for
division and statehood. Let them stand
shoulder to shoulder, ignoring petty
differences, and act the part of manly
men. II is in their power to do a great
and beneficent work-a work that will
be the browning glory of their lives, and
enshrine their names Upon the pages oil
history for all time. And to this end
they have only to repeal the law Great
lng the capital commission, re-enact the
old law. and adjourn to meet in Yankton
at some future day. On their re. assemb.
ling let them pass q law fixing the time
when all authority of federal and terri
torial officers over the people OF any
portion OF the state of Dakota shall cease
and that all laws of the territory Of Dako
ia, in SO far as they apply to that portion
of Dakota embraced within the boun-
daries of the state OF Dakota shall b.
null and void from and after the the ex-
piration of the first session OF the state
Legislature. III the members OF the Bis
marck legislature from south Dakots
would do this-lf they but had the eour
age and the Jacksonian spirit to thu
dare to do an act Of Justice and right
they would accomplish more for division
and statehood than has ever been accom-
pitched yet. OF course the governo
would use his veto power, bat push i
away as you would any other'speck from
IQueens county who assumes to dictate
to q people who have not called upol
him for his services. A CRY Of usurpa,
ton would be raised, but what force ca
there be in such q cry when congress
itself is guilty of far worse usnrpation
Heroic treatment is ell this question
now needs and when congress finds on
|. from a practical demonstration on tn,
part Of the people or their representa-
tives, that they are in earnest and meal
business in this matter of statehood
then will we as q people be accorded on
undeniable rights, and not till then.
T.. d. f. PooRE.
TEMPERANCE TALK.